'Mitzvah tanks' set off to Crimea in Jewish expedition across Russia (VIDEO)

Rabbis and students of Jewish religious schools from the US, Europe, and Israel have set off on a journey across Russia in special vehicles known as “Mitzvah tanks.” As part of the trip, the expedition will visit Crimea to promote Judaism there.

For the first time in history, Crimea was in included on the
itinerary.

A Mitzvah tank is a portable mini-synagogue used by Orthodox Jews
as an outreach campaign in countries all over the world. US,
European, and Israeli Jews have come together to Moscow to travel
through the country and spread the word of Chabad-Lubavitch
Hasidism (Ultra-Orthodox Judaism).

They were divided into four groups, each one traveling into
different directions – the south, the Urals, Siberia, and central
Russia. The Mitzvah tanks are scheduled to return to Moscow on
August 24.

Organizers say the purpose of the trip is to awaken interest in
Jewish roots and culture.

“In most cases, people are interested in the basics of the
Jewish Faith, they try to understand what they believe the Jews,
what kind of religion, and what is its canon,” the head of
the press service of the Federation of Jewish Communities in
Russia, Andrey Glotser, told Itar-Tass.

Those aboard the Mitzvah tanks are prepared to answer questions,
give lectures, and discuss Jewish literature.

Glotser praised the activism, adding that it has been very
successful over the past two years.

Such vehicles could be seen traveling all across the globe.
Mitzvah tanks were first used on the streets of New York City in
1974. They were created to remind Jewish immigrants to the US not
to forget about their own religion and culture.

The Mitzvah tanks are usually painted as a stone synagogue and
are covered with Jewish banners and logos. Many have external
loudspeakers to play klezmer-style music.